One of the more interesting discussion points every time a new fantasy football season rolls around is in regards to the draft slots. While it is possible with wise decisions, bold moves and fearless picks to win a league no matter where you draft from, it is obvious to veteran fantasy owners that there is some advantage to drafting in certain positions as opposed to others. Every draft slot will have positives, negatives and its own unique draft strategy and it is imperative that fantasy owners take the time to really breakdown the advantages and disadvantages to their draft position. That is where I and this long-running Footballguys exclusive come in.

This series of articles will take an in-depth look at multiple types of leagues such as 10-team, 12-team and 14-team leagues as well as unique starting lineup and scoring rules. We will run a mock draft for every new scenario and breakdown the positives and negatives of each draft position.

This study is performed using the mock draft function within our own Draft Dominator software. The program gives you the ability to draft for one team and have the other teams taken over by computer control using different ADP lists. For the purpose of this study, I will use David Dodds' projections found within the Dominator. The mock draft ability of the Dominator is a nice way to prepare for your fantasy draft. Running the same draft several times will help you to anticipate all possible scenarios when your own draft arrives. Check it out today.

This particular series is based on...

14 teams

18 rounds

There are a few interesting twists in this study

Flex player added

6 points per passing touchdown

1 point per reception for running backs / receivers but 1.5 points per reception for tight ends

A few players are dropping further than anticipated in the Draft Dominator likely due to a number of factors. I have tweaked those players' projections higher in order to have them drafted where they should be in the draft. I am always striving to make this series better so if you have any feedback or questions, let me know. If you would like to see a particular study this season, please send me an e-mail at smith@footballguys.com, and I will do my best to cover your scoring rules, starting lineup requirements, etc. before the end of training camp.

Onto the article.

Drafting 11th overall (14-team re-draft)

This will be a challenging draft slot this year but it is still possible to build a very strong team. The top several running backs, QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Calvin Johnson and TE Jimmy Graham are all very likely to be off the board here meaning this draft slot will be behind the other owners who drafted ahead in round one. However the earlier pick coming back in round two is going to help alleviate that concern and there are multiple paths to take this draft down. QB Drew Brees, TE Rob Gronkowski and QB Tom Brady are all possibilities but again with the FLEX pick going running back here is likely going to make the most sense unless one of the mentioned players earlier falls. In a running back heavy draft, this owner will be able to begin with Graham, Calvin Johnson or Rodgers and have a nice advantage out of the gate. However if they are all gone, RB/RB may be the best bet here.

Possible strategies to incorporate into your draft

League that goes RB heavy in first two rounds

Possible squad through five rounds

TE Jimmy Graham

QB Drew Brees

WR Wes Welker

WR Hakeem Nicks

WR Eric Decker

This would be an extreme case of high risk and high reward drafting. With a top-two quarterback and the best tight end on board as well as a strong receiving trio, in many ways this starting lineup will be the toast of the league. However the obvious caveat here is the lack of running backs available. Quickly playing through the next several rounds, a possible running back stable could be Ryan Williams, Mikel Leshoure and Daniel Thomas. All three players have big upside but also chance of minimal impact. It would be those types of players to target though hoping to find a few diamonds in the rough. If you get six such players and even three hit, this squad would look outstanding.

League that has more flexibility in first two rounds

If your league has more flexibility in the top include the best quarterbacks and receivers off the board, then a more conventional approach is in order...

Possible squad through five rounds

RB Chris Johnson

RB DeMarco Murray

RB Frank Gore

WR Mike Wallace

WR DeSean Jackson

This is a more typical fantasy approach and works out quite nicely. The first three picks are all running backs and allows me to plug in Frank Gore as my FLEX option, which is strong. Picking up two good receiving options in round five really does solidify the foundation of this squad. Rounds six through eight could bring in a receiver like Torrey Smith, a tight end such as Fred Davis and a quarterback like Matt Schaub and this roster will be in outstanding shape.

Round 6: QB if none taken unless multiple left on board, then RB/WR/TE if ones mentioned above there)

Round 7: QB/TE if none taken, otherwise RB/WR

Positives of the draft slot

Two of the top-eighteen players

Easy to project who is available between odd and even rounds

Good spot to start a draft RB/RB and get a great starting duo

Negatives of the draft slot

Good chance the top several running backs, top quarterback, receiver and tight end all off the board

Very long time between even and odd round picks will make it challenging to project

Can feel like you are chasing owners ahead of you in round one and getting the earlier pick in round two

Final Draft Table

Pick

Pos

Player Selected

Team

Selected By

1.01

RB1

Arian Foster

Hou/8

Team 1

1.02

RB2

Ray Rice

Bal/8

Team 2

1.03

RB3

LeSean McCoy

Phi/7

Team 3

1.04

RB4

Matt Forte

Chi/6

Team 4

1.05

QB1

Aaron Rodgers

GB/10

Team 5

1.06

RB5

Trent Richardson

Cle/10

Team 6

1.07

WR1

Calvin Johnson

Det/5

Team 7

1.08

RB6

Chris Johnson

Ten/11

Team 8

1.09

QB2

Tom Brady

NE/9

Team 9

1.10

RB7

Darren McFadden

Oak/5

Team 10

1.11

RB8

Maurice Jones-Drew

Jac/6

Draft Study Team

1.12

QB3

Drew Brees

NO/6

Team 12

1.13

RB9

Jamaal Charles

KC/7

Team 13

1.14

RB10

Ahmad Bradshaw

NYG/11

Team 14

2.01

TE1

Jimmy Graham

NO/6

Team 14

2.02

TE2

Rob Gronkowski

NE/9

Team 13

2.03

RB11

Ryan Matthews

SD/7

Team 12

2.04

RB12

DeMarco Murray

Dal/5

Draft Study Team

2.05

RB13

Doug Martin

TB/5

Team 10

2.06

RB14

Steven Jackson

StL/9

Team 9

2.07

RB15

Fred Jackson

Buf/8

Team 8

2.08

WR2

Larry Fitzgerald

Ari/10

Team 7

2.09

RB16

Darren Sproles

NO/6

Team 6

2.10

RB17

Adrian Peterson

Min/11

Team 5

2.11

WR3

Andre Johnson

Hou/8

Team 4

2.12

WR4

Julio Jones

Atl/7

Team 3

2.13

WR5

Greg Jennings

GB/10

Team 2

2.14

RB18

Reggie Bush

Mia/7

Team 1

3.01

WR6

Roddy White

Atl/7

Team 1

3.02

WR7

Jordy Nelson

GB/10

Team 2

3.03

RB19

Donald Brown

Ind/4

Team 3

3.04

QB4

Cam Newton

Car/6

Team 4

3.05

RB20

Marshawn Lynch

Sea/11

Team 5

3.06

QB5

Matthew Stafford

Det/5

Team 6

3.07

WR8

Dez Bryant

Dal/5

Team 7

3.08

RB21

Isaac Redman

Pit/4

Team 8

3.09

WR9

A.J. Green

Cin/8

Team 9

3.10

WR10

Victor Cruz

NYG/11

Team 10

3.11

WR12

Wes Welker

NE/9

Draft Study Team

3.12

RB22

Michael Turner

Atl/7

Team 12

3.13

WR11

Demaryius Thomas

Den/7

Team 13

3.14

WR13

Mike Wallace

Pit/4

Team 14

4.01

TE3

Aaron Hernandez

NE/9

Team 14

4.02

TE4

Jason Witten

Dal/5

Team 13

4.03

TE5

Antonio Gates

SD/7

Team 12

4.04

WR17

Hakeem Nicks

NYG/11

Draft Study Team

4.05

WR14

Percy Harvin

Min/11

Team 10

4.06

RB23

Frank Gore

SF/9

Team 9

4.07

WR15

Brandon Marshall

Chi/6

Team 8

4.08

WR16

Miles Austin

Dal/5

Team 7

4.09

RB24

James Starks

GB/10

Team 6

4.10

RB25

Shonn Greene

NYJ/9

Team 5

4.11

WR18

Marques Colston

NO/6

Team 4

4.12

WR19

Steve Johnson

Buf/8

Team 3

4.13

WR20

Steve Smith

Car/6

Team 2

4.14

WR21

Vincent Jackson

TB/5

Team 1

5.01

QB6

Michael Vick

Phi/7

Team 1

5.02

RB26

Roy Helu

Was/10

Team 2

5.03

RB27

Jonathan Stewart

Car/6

Team 3

5.04

RB28

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Cin/8

Team 4

5.05

WR22

DeSean Jackson

Phi/7

Team 5

5.06

TE6

Vernon Davis

SF/9

Team 6

5.07

QB7

Philip Rivers

SD/7

Team 7

5.08

QB8

Eli Manning

NYG/11

Team 8

5.09

RB29

C.J. Spiller

Buf/8

Team 9

5.10

WR23

Denarius Moore

Oak/5

Team 10

5.11

RB30

Willis McGahee

Den/7

Draft Study Team

5.12

RB31

Mark Ingram

NO/6

Team 12

5.13

WR24

Eric Decker

Den/7

Team 13

5.14

QB9

Tony Romo

Dal/5

Team 14

6.01

WR25

Jeremy Maclin

Phi/7

Team 14

6.02

QB10

Matt Ryan

Atl/7

Team 13

6.03

WR26

Antonio Brown

Pit/4

Team 12

6.04

WR27

Torrey Smith

Bal/8

Draft Study Team

6.05

QB11

Ben Roethlisberger

Pit/4

Team 10

6.06

WR28

Dwayne Bowe

KC/7

Team 9

6.07

WR29

Reggie Wayne

Ind/4

Team 8

6.08

RB32

DeAngelo Williams

Car/6

Team 7

6.09

WR30

Brandon Lloyd

NE/9

Team 6

6.10

WR31

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Oak/5

Team 5

6.11

RB33

Ryan Williams

Ari/10

Team 4

6.12

QB12

Robert Griffin III

Was/10

Team 3

6.13

QB13

Peyton Manning

Den/7

Team 2

6.14

RB34

Stevan Ridley

NE/9

Team 1

7.01

TE7

Brandon Pettigrew

Det/5

Team 1

7.02

WR32

Santonio Holmes

NYJ/9

Team 2

7.03

WR33

Kenny Britt

Ten/11

Team 3

7.04

WR34

Sidney Rice

Sea/11

Team 4

7.05

WR35

Robert Meachem

SD/7

Team 5

7.06

TE8

Jermichael Finley

GB/10

Team 6

7.07

RB35

Peyton Hillis

KC/7

Team 7

7.08

TE9

Tony Gonzalez

Atl/7

Team 8

7.09

RB36

Pierre Thomas

NO/6

Team 9

7.10

RB37

Kevin Smith

Det/5

Team 10

7.11

TE10

Fred Davis

Was/10

Draft Study Team

7.12

WR36

Pierre Garcon

Was/10

Team 12

7.13

RB38

Felix Jones

Dal/5

Team 13

7.14

RB39

Michael Bush

Chi/6

Team 14

8.01

QB14

Josh Freeman

TB/5

Team 14

8.02

RB40

Chris Wells

Ari/10

Team 13

8.03

WR37

Malcom Floyd

SD/7

Team 12

8.04

RB43

Mikel Leshoure

Det/5

Draft Study Team

8.05

WR38

Greg Little

Cle/10

Team 10

8.06

WR39

Randy Moss

SF/9

Team 9

8.07

WR40

Nate Washington

Ten/11

Team 8

8.08

RB41

Toby Gerhart

Min/11

Team 7

8.09

WR41

Anquan Boldin

Bal/8

Team 6

8.10

WR42

Michael Crabtree

SF/9

Team 5

8.11

RB42

Ronnie Hillman

Den/7

Team 4

8.12

QB15

Carson Palmer

Oak/5

Team 3

8.13

RB44

Ben Tate

Hou/8

Team 2

8.14

DEF1

San Francisco

SF/9

Team 1

9.01

TE11

Brent Celek

Phi/7

Team 1

9.02

TE12

Dustin Keller

NYJ/9

Team 2

9.03

TE13

Jermaine Gresham

Cin/8

Team 3

9.04

TE14

Owen Daniels

Hou/8

Team 4

9.05

RB45

Daniel Thomas

Mia/7

Team 5

9.06

RB46

Jacquizz Rodgers

Atl/7

Team 6

9.07

RB47

Rashad Jennings

Jac/6

Team 7

9.08

WR43

Lance Moore

NO/6

Team 8

9.09

WR44

Mike Williams

TB/5

Team 9

9.10

DEF2

Philadelphia

Phi/7

Team 10

9.11

QB17

Matt Schaub

Hou/8

Draft Study Team

9.12

DEF3

Baltimore

Bal/8

Team 12

9.13

RB48

Tim Hightower

Was/10

Team 13

9.14

RB49

Marcel Reece

Oak/5

Team 14

10.01

WR45

Titus Young

Det/5

Team 14

10.02

QB16

Andy Dalton

Cin/8

Team 13

10.03

WR46

Austin Collie

Ind/4

Team 12

10.04

WR47

Terrell Owens

Sea/11

Draft Study Team

10.05

QB18

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Buf/8

Team 10

10.06

QB19

Alex Smith

SF/9

Team 9

10.07

QB20

Joe Flacco

Bal/8

Team 8

10.08

QB21

Jay Cutler

Chi/6

Team 7

10.09

QB22

Andrew Luck

Ind/4

Team 6

10.10

WR48

Brandon LaFell

Car/6

Team 5

10.11

WR49

Santana Moss

Was/10

Team 4

10.12

WR50

Justin Blackmon

Jac/6

Team 3

10.13

RB50

Joe McKnight

NYJ/9

Team 2

10.14

WR51

Nate Burleson

Det/5

Team 1

11.01

WR52

Doug Baldwin

Sea/11

Team 1

11.02

DEF4

Chicago

Chi/6

Team 2

11.03

DEF5

New York Jets

NYJ/9

Team 3

11.04

DEF6

Pittsburgh

Pit/4

Team 4

11.05

DEF7

New England

NE/9

Team 5

11.06

DEF8

Green Bay

GB/10

Team 6

11.07

TE15

Jacob Tamme

Den/7

Team 7

11.08

TE16

Jared Cook

Ten/11

Team 8

11.09

DEF9

Detroit

Det/5

Team 9

11.10

PK1

Stephen Gostkowski

NE/9

Team 10

11.11

QB23

Jake Locker

Ten/11

Draft Study Team

11.12

TE17

Coby Fleener

Ind/4

Team 12

11.13

PK2

David Akers

SF/9

Team 13

11.14

RB51

Danny Woodhead

NE/9

Team 14

12.01

WR53

David Nelson

Buf/8

Team 14

12.02

WR54

Randall Cobb

GB/10

Team 13

12.03

WR55

Jerome Simpson

Min/11

Team 12

12.04

RB58

Mike Goodson

Oak/5

Draft Study Team

12.05

RB52

Kendall Hunter

SF/9

Team 10

12.06

WR56

Michael Floyd

Ari/10

Team 9

12.07

WR57

Davone Bess

Mia/7

Team 8

12.08

DEF10

New York Giants

NYG/11

Team 7

12.09

WR58

Laurent Robinson

Jac/6

Team 6

12.10

QB24

Christian Ponder

Min/11

Team 5

12.11

QB25

Sam Bradford

StL/9

Team 4

12.12

WR59

Emmanuel Sanders

Pit/4

Team 3

12.13

QB26

Matt Cassel

KC/7

Team 2

12.14

WR60

Brian Hartline

Mia/7

Team 1

13.01

WR61

Brian Quick

StL/9

Team 1

13.02

TE18

Greg Olsen

Car/6

Team 2

13.03

RB53

David Wilson

NYG/11

Team 3

13.04

WR62

Danny Amendola

StL/9

Team 4

13.05

PK3

Garrett Hartley

NO/6

Team 5

13.06

WR63

Kendall Wright

Ten/11

Team 6

13.07

RB54

Shane Vereen

NE/9

Team 7

13.08

PK4

Mason Crosby

GB/10

Team 8

13.09

PK5

Sebastian Janikowski

Oak/5

Team 9

13.10

RB55

Alex Green

GB/10

Team 10

13.11

WR64

Alshon Jeffery

Chi/6

Draft Study Team

13.12

RB56

Isaiah Pead

StL/9

Team 12

13.13

RB57

Jahvid Best

Det/5

Team 13

13.14

DEF11

Buffalo

Buf/8

Team 14

14.01

RB59

Mike Tolbert

Car/6

Team 14

14.02

DEF12

Dallas

Dal/5

Team 13

14.03

RB60

LeGarrette Blount

TB/5

Team 12

14.04

WR66

Stephen Hill

NYJ/9

Draft Study Team

14.05

TE19

Heath Miller

Pit/4

Team 10

14.06

TE20

Ed Dickson

Bal/8

Team 9

14.07

DEF13

Seattle

Sea/11

Team 8

14.08

TE21

Kyle Rudolph

Min/11

Team 7

14.09

WR65

Vincent Brown

SD/7

Team 6

14.10

WR67

Donnie Avery

Ind/4

Team 5

14.11

PK6

Alex Henery

Phi/7

Team 4

14.12

RB61

Danny Ware

NYG/11

Team 3

14.13

RB62

Bernard Scott

Cin/8

Team 2

14.14

RB63

Javon Ringer

Ten/11

Team 1

15.01

QB27

Brandon Weeden

Cle/10

Team 1

15.02

QB28

Matt Flynn

Sea/11

Team 2

15.03

TE22

Lance Kendricks

StL/9

Team 3

15.04

RB64

Delone Carter

Ind/4

Team 4

15.05

RB65

LeRon McClain

SD/7

Team 5

15.06

RB66

Leon Washington

Sea/11

Team 6

15.07

RB67

Bernard Pierce

Bal/8

Team 7

15.08

RB68

Robert Turbin

Sea/11

Team 8

15.09

TE23

Marcedes Lewis

Jac/6

Team 9

15.10

TE24

Tony Moeaki

KC/7

Team 10

15.11

DEF14

Atlanta

Atl/7

Draft Study Team

15.12

RB69

Dion Lewis

Phi/7

Team 12

15.13

RB70

Brandon Jacobs

SF/9

Team 13

15.14

RB71

Brian Leonard

Cin/8

Team 14

16.01

PK7

Dan Carpenter

Mia/7

Team 14

16.02

WR68

Steve Smith

StL/9

Team 13

16.03

QB29

Mark Sanchez

NYJ/9

Team 12

16.04

TE28

Dallas Clark

TB/5

Draft Study Team

16.05

PK8

Randy Bullock

Hou/8

Team 10

16.06

PK9

Nate Kaeding

SD/7

Team 9

16.07

WR69

Jacoby Ford

Oak/5

Team 8

16.08

WR70

Devery Henderson

NO/6

Team 7

16.09

WR71

Jason Avant

Phi/7

Team 6

16.10

TE25

Scott Chandler

Buf/8

Team 5

16.11

TE26

Zach Miller

Sea/11

Team 4

16.12

PK10

Dan Bailey

Dal/5

Team 3

16.13

WR72

Earl Bennett

Chi/6

Team 2

16.14

RB72

Rashard Mendenhall

Pit/4

Team 1

17.01

QB30

Kevin Kolb

Ari/10

Team 1

17.02

PK11

Matt Bryant

Atl/7

Team 2

17.03

QB31

Blaine Gabbert

Jac/6

Team 3

17.04

QB32

Tim Tebow

NYJ/9

Team 4

17.05

TE27

Anthony Fasano

Mia/7

Team 5

17.06

WR73

Steve Breaston

KC/7

Team 6

17.07

PK12

Billy Cundiff

Bal/8

Team 7

17.08

RB73

Jason Snelling

Atl/7

Team 8

17.09

TE29

Dennis Pitta

Bal/8

Team 9

17.10

WR74

Rueben Randle

NYG/11

Team 10

17.11

RB83

Bilal Powell

NYJ/9

Draft Study Team

17.12

WR75

Leonard Hankerson

Was/10

Team 12

17.13

WR76

Kevin Walter

Hou/8

Team 13

17.14

WR77

Harry Douglas

Atl/7

Team 14

18.01

WR78

Donald Jones

Buf/8

Team 14

18.02

WR79

Roberto Wallace

Mia/7

Team 13

18.03

PK13

Jason Hanson

Det/5

Team 12

18.04

PK

Matt Prater

Den/7

Draft Study Team

18.05

TE30

Kellen Winslow

Sea/11

Team 10

18.06

WR81

Mohamed Sanu

Cin/8

Team 9

18.07

RB74

Jonathan Dwyer

Pit/4

Team 8

18.08

PK14

Mike Nugent

Cin/8

Team 7

18.09

PK15

Shaun Suisham

Pit/4

Team 6

18.10

PK16

Neil Rackers

Was/10

Team 5

18.11

WR82

Jonathan Baldwin

KC/7

Team 4

18.12

PK17

Rob Bironas

Ten/11

Team 3

18.13

RB75

Dexter McCluster

KC/7

Team 2

18.14

PK18

Josh Brown

NYJ/9

Team 1

Breaking down the mock draft from the 11th draft position

Round 1: RB Darren McFadden

There are so many different ways to take this draft here. You can really roll the dice and start the draft with the Saints combo, TE Jimmy Graham and QB Drew Brees if he fell to 2.04 which is a possibility. However I already broke down that possible start above so I will roll with a more conventional approach here. Starting a draft running back / running back is never an awful strategy as long as two good players are there to select. The first player Darren McFadden has top-three potential in fantasy points per game. He may miss a game or two along the way but his fantasy production should be outstanding.

Rounds 2: RB DeMarco Murray

As mentioned earlier, I am thinking about a RB/RB start to this draft and it all falls together with DeMarco Murray on the board. He and McFadden are talented, young, explosive players and will give me an excellent one-two punch at the running back position. The only other player I consider here still on the board is WR Larry Fitzgerald but there are tons of receivers I like that can be targeted later so Murray is the easy choice.

Rounds 3: WR Wes Welker

I am tempted to go Frank Gore here and have a great FLEX option right out of the gate. However I also showcased that drafting idea above so I will switch gears here and go with a monster player in a PPR format in Wes Welker. He is a lock for 100 receptions and is a great WR1 in PPR leagues. I am happy to add him to the team and my foundation is looking very good through three rounds.

Round 4: WR Hakeem Nicks

I actually believe I am going to go tight end position here and Antonio Gates but he is scooped up the pick before mine. Again I can consider my FLEX needs and add Frank Gore but I see Hakeem Nicks who has tremendous upside and I decide RB/RB/WR/WR is a great way to start this draft. If Gates is available with this pick, I would pick him up instead as he is going to have a huge season.

Rounds 5: RB Willis McGahee

I am happy that I passed on Gore earlier as I have a player I like just as much 21 picks later. McGahee is not flashy and his upside is limited but he is a good player to plug into a FLEX spot. I think about adding a receiver like Eric Decker or even a quarterback here like Matt Ryan but I just see too much potential to lose fantasy points with a FLEX position in play. I will find a serviceable quarterback later on.

Rounds 6: WR Torrey Smith

This is a real decision spot in the draft. I have three different paths I can go down. If I take a quarterback here like Ben Roethlisberger, the receiver talent is likely to dry up considerably by my next pick. I see this group of several receivers as the last of the sure things and a great WR3 in fantasy leagues. All of them are likely to be gone next pick. I can also consider a tight end here but I feel pretty safe in waiting another round or two and still getting a good tight end with upside. If I go receiver here, I am in danger of having the quarterback position possible run quite dry (Roethlisberger, Manning and Griffin III. There are risks in all directions but the upside of Torrey Smith as a WR3 is simply too positive to ignore and I grab him here.

Round 7: TE Fred Davis

My worry about the quarterback position drying up came to pass so it is time to implement plan B. I will ignore the position again for another round or two and will tread water this year with quarterback. I do see a few that I like more good possibilities here so no worries as something good will fall into our laps in the next couple of rounds. I see a few decent receiving options here but I need a starting tight end and with Fred Davis available, now is the time to pounce. I scoop him up with little thought.

Rounds 8: RB Mikel Leshoure

I now see several quarterbacks I am comfortable starting each week and am pretty sure one will drop another round so instead I take a running back with upside here in Mikel Leshoure. He has the talent and ability to be a fantasy weapon and as a RB4, he is a great pickup.

Rounds 9: QB Matt Schaub

Phew! Waiting on quarterback for as long as I did paid off. As anticipated the other owners had to address running back, receiver and tight end instead of securing a backup quarterback and the best of the remaining ones in round seven in my opinion fell into my lap. Schaub is a veteran quarterback who is capable of finishing inside the top-eight. Quarterback won't be a strength for my team but it also will not be a huge weakness.

At the halfway point of the draft, our team looks like this...

Quarterbacks

Matt Schaub

Running Backs

Darren McFadden

DeMarco Murray

Willis McGahee

Mikel Leshoure

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Hakeem Nicks

Torrey Smith

Tight Ends

Fred Davis

Place Kickers

none

Defenses

none

I feel very good about this squad through the first nine picks. The weakest part of the team is at quarterback as one would expect waiting so long to grab a starter. However Matt Schaub is not way behind the other quarterbacks in the NFL and is capable of putting up great fantasy numbers. I only have three receivers on the roster right now but all three are top-15 capable and are a great starting option each week. I am four strong at running back with three capable weekly starters and an upside player in Mikel Leshoure. To round out the first half of the draft I have a tight end capable of a top-five finish.

I start the second half of the draft with a swing for the fences player. Terrell Owens by all accounts is well behaved and being a model teammate. The question is at his advanced age can he still get open and make a difference on the field. I believe he can and is worth a shot here. If he exceeds expectations and approaches his past productivity, he is a backup receiver for my team. If he struggles, he becomes a free agent casualty. I love the fantasy potential of Jake Locker. If for some reason you get fantasy points for completion percentage, he may be the worst fantasy starter this year as his accuracy is pedestrian at best. However Locker is an athlete, can pile up points with his legs and makes big plays happen down the field. He will surprise in fantasy circles this year and I am glad to scoop him up. Mike Goodson is selected here to protect against injury with Darren McFadden. He is capable if called upon. Finally I add a rookie with big upside in Alshon Jeffery. He can produce right out of the gate.

Why have one rookie receiver when you can have a pair? I rarely will select a pair of rookie receivers but both Stephen Hill and Alshon Jeffery may contribute immediately this season. His upside is worth the pick here. I grab a defense and a kicker in these rounds as well as a dependable backup tight end. The swing for the fences player here is Bilal Powell, running back of the Jets. The team is not happy with the current running backs and there is a real shot for Powell to emerge with the lion's share of the work in 2012. As a late-round flyer, the upside is huge.

Final Roster (Draft Slot #11)

Quarterbacks

Matt Schaub

Jake Locker

Running Backs

Darren McFadden

DeMarco Murray

Willis McGahee

Mikel Leshoure

Mike Goodson

Bilal Powell

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Hakeem Nicks

Torrey Smith

Terrell Owens

Alshon Jeffery

Stephen Hill

Tight Ends

Fred Davis

Dallas Clark

Place Kickers

Matt Prater

Defenses

Atlanta Falcons

Final thoughts on this roster

There is some high risk high rewards players on this squad (Jake Locker, Terrell Owens, Alshon Jeffery, Stephen Hill, Mikel Leshoure and Bilal Powell but the foundation under those risky picks is rock solid. If a few of these players hit it big, the squad is in wonderful shape but even if none of them hit, the team still has a strong weekly starting lineup. The starters at running back and receiver are very good. I can start Darren McFadden, DeMarco Murray, Willis McGahee, Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks, Torrey Smith and Fred Davis week in and week out and be in great shape. Quarterback is not an obvious strength but I am happy with the pair I have. All in all, there is a squad with huge upside and possibilities. Gotta like that heading into the season.

Last thoughts on the 11th draft slot in a 14-team league

This is not the easiest place to draft from simply do to the face you are playing catch-up on both sides of your first round pick. Going RB/RB to begin the draft will be the most likely strategy here unless talent drops but if you have Jimmy Graham or Aaron Rodgers available in the 11-hole, then definitely go that route. A Graham / Brees beginning to the draft is risky insofar as you will have to draft very well at the running back and receiver positions but it locks two powerhouse players into your starting lineup and really strengthens the foundation of the team. I have showcased multiple possible paths to success here so allow the first ten picks to unfold and then pick your direction.

Good luck and happy drafting. Thanks for reading.

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